HISTORY OF THE ABINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
Beginning with the Town’s incorporation on June 10, 1712, the police force was comprised of elected constables who served for one-year terms. Constables derived their powers from English Common Law and in fact police officers derive their powers from the office of constable. In Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 41, section 98 states that the police officers shall have “all the powers and duties of constable except serving and executing civil process.”
The earlier so called “lock-up” was held in the basement of the Town House, which was located to the westerly side of the railroad tracks and St. Bridget’s Church on Central Street, and constructed in 1835. This “lock-up” was very primitive and unsafe causing the Board of Selectmen to begin the process, in 1865, of petitioning the town meeting for a permanent lock-up.
Town House (no longer there) on Central Street where the first Lock-up was located in the basement before road was depressed to allow for train bridge over Central Street. St. Bridget’s Church to the right of tracks.
Town House (no longer there) on Central Street where the first Lock-up was located in the basement before road was depressed to allow for train bridge over Central Street. St. Bridget’s Church to the right of tracks
It took two years and finally at the annual town meeting, held March 11, 1867, town meeting appropriated $ 1,200 to construct a lock-up. As reported by the Board of Selectmen, the entire cost came in under budget and for $ 967.10, “a substantial brick lock-up has been built.” This lock up was located on Lake Street.
At the March 3, 1884, Annual Town Meeting voters approved the slum of $ 1,000 to construct a lock-up in the North Ward as requested by petition of citizens. This lock up was built on Brighton Street and later enlarged to become the very first Police Station for the Town.
In 1889, the Board of Selectmen reported on the installation of the first night patrol in its annual report as follows: “In the first half of the year many complaints were made by residents of the villages that the streets were nosy, disorderly and unsafe at night. Your selectmen deemed it their duty to apply such a remedy as the could, and so directed a patrol until quiet seemed in a measure restored.” -1889 Annual Town Report
Liquor played a large part in the problems plaguing the Town and its constabulary, and in 1895, the Board of Selectmen again found a need to increase a “police presence” as evidenced from the selectmen’s report to the Town.
“Early in the year an epidemic of hoodlumism raged to such an extent that we received many requests for additional police protection upon our streets. These requests we could not ignore, but to comply with them even in a moderate degree necessitated for a larger expenditure of money than our appropriation covered. To more than offset the excess however, the returns into our treasury from court cases have been ample, and the quiet and safety of our streets to a good degree obtained.” 1895 Annual Town Report, report of the Board of Selectmen.
By the turn of the century, the Board of Selectmen was experiencing frustration at having a police force of “elected” constables who effectively did not have to obey the selectmen’s orders, and in 1900 reported this problem to the town.
“We believe that the Town in electing more than two constables, one in each precinct, are causing unnecessary expenses, and at the same time are not increasing the efficiency of the police force. We believe that if we are to be held responsible for the enforcement of any laws, we should have some control of the force who are expected to enforce them”. 1900 Annual Town Report, report of the Board of Selectmen.
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 4, 1901, the Inhabitants of the Town agreed with the Board of Selectmen, and demanded that the police force have a chief.“VOTED: That it is the sense of this meeting that the police force have a chief and if a chief is not appointed by the selectmen that he be elected by the Town.“ 1901 Annual Town Report, excerpts of town meeting.
Abington Police Force consisting of Constables and Special Police Officers in 1912 for 200th Anniversary Celebration
At the March 3, 1941, annual town meeting voters placed the office of chief of police and officers of the police department under the state civil service law.
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 2, 1964, the Inhabitants of the Town voted to appropriate $ 125,000 for the construction of a new police station which was built on Central Street to the westerly side and within a few hundred feet of the original lock-up located at the Town House.
At the Annual Town Meeting held April 4, 2005, the Inhabitants of the Town voted to appropriate $ 6.3 million to construct and outfit a new police station wot replace the one authorized in 1964. This vote was contingent on a ballot vote as required under the state law. At the Annual Town Election held on April 4, 2005, the question of exempting the debt for the construction of a new police station failed by a vote of YES-972 and NO-974. The matter lost by 2 votes. However, a recount petition was filed by a number of interested citizens and upon a recount held by the Registrars of Voters on April 23, 2005, the final result was certified as YES-976 and NO-969. The matter passed by 7 votes.
The current Abington Police Headquarters was constructed and took occupancy in 2008.
Chiefs of Police
1. 1901-1902 Windsor H. Wyman
2. 1902-1905 William Pierce
3. 1905-1908 John Condon
4. 1908-1917 John F. Hollis
5. 1917 George Gillis (left mid year to fight in World War 1)
6. 1917-1923 Frank C. Bates
7. 1923-1938 Henry W. Nickerson
8. 1938-1942 Thomas F. Lynch (killed in the line of duty February 15, 1942)
9. 1942-1963 John A. Litchfield
10. 1963-1982 John E. Murphy
11. 1982-1989 James J. Healy
12. 1989-1992 Richard L. Tower
13. 1992-2004 Richard L. Franey
14. 2004-2021 David G. Majenski
15. 2021-2024 David Del Papa
16. 2024- John Bonney
Deputy Chiefs of Police
The office of Deputy Police Chief was created by vote of the June 26, 1991, session of the Annual Town Meeting.
1. 1991-1992 Richard L. Franey
2. 1992-1997 Frank Graziano
3. 1997-2004 David G. Majenski
4. 2004-2021 Christopher J. Cutter
5. 2021-2024 Kevin Sullivan
6. 2024- Jeffrey Postell
Date: August 10, 2025